Chapter 62 Death and Resurrection

Chapter 62 Death and Resurrection

With no time for answers, Aslan bolted from the room. The academy dormitory where Dorothy resided was engulfed in flames. After running at full speed, Aslan arrived at the dormitory only to find it ablaze with unholy fire. Some children who had escaped were either writhing from burns or crying out in despair. Dorothy, however, was nowhere to be seen.

Anxiously, Aslan approached someone who seemed unharmed.

Excuse me, have you seen Dorothy? A girl with transparent blue hair?

Do, Dorothy? The failing student?

He seemed to recognize Dorothy, but his expression betrayed ignorance of her current whereabouts. Suddenly, a child raised a hand.

I saw her! Dorothy saved that kid and me over there.

The student, apparently exhausted from inhaling smoke, pointed to another unconscious child, but Dorothy herself was still missing.

Wheres Dorothy?

She went back inside to save more kids

Hearing this, Aslan charged through the entrance without hesitation. Having cast a series of spells to ward off flames, he dashed through the searing inferno. Despite the protective magic, the heat was intensethese werent ordinary flames.

This is magic.

Who would do such a thing? Did someone bear a grudge against the academy? Aslan, who didnt attend the academy, couldnt knowbut he was certain of one thing: he needed to find Dorothy.

Dorothy! Dorothy, where are you?

Dodging falling debris, Aslan desperately called out for Dorothy. A girl just barely managing basic spells couldnt possibly withstand such a blaze. He scoured the first floor, then the second, and as he reached the third, he sensed a drop in the ferocity of flames from a certain direction. Realizing this, Aslan propelled himself towards it with all his might.

Move!

He sent the rubble flying with magic and saw a glimpse of blue hair amidst the ice. Between locks of frosty hair, the clear ice-like skin of a girl came into view, her body seemingly half made of ice, frantically suppressing the magic circle of flames with coldness.

It was Dorothy he knew so well.

Dorothy!

His voice drew her attention. Shock and confusion replaced the usual serenity in her eyes.

Ah, Aslan?

Flustered to see him here, and fully aware of her own appearance, she was at a loss. Aslan realized it thenDorothy was no ordinary human. She was a spirit.

The presence of a spirit instinctively incites aversion in people. And in the Igrit family, spirits were a taboo, ever since the atrocities committed by the first spirit contracted by the original spirit mage, which had gone down in history. Dorothy wasnt unaware of this, and guilt for deceiving him filled her mind.

However, Aslan felt a profound sense of relief. Dorothy was safe. He immediately rushed to her side, regardless of her being a spirit. She was the Dorothy who had given him a second chance at life.

Aslan, you fool?! Its dangerous! Get out of here now!

Despite her shock, Dorothy was more concerned about Aslans safety than her own appearance. But he felt the same towards her.

We just need to deal with this.

Wait, its dangerous!

Aslan, I am an Igrit.

He stepped in front of the magic circle, heat fiercely beating against his face. Ignoring it, he extended his hands and began to unravel the array of magical circles that had started to glow within his grasp.

Magic is my specialty.

The irony wasnt lost on him. The man who had grown weary of magic early in life was now claiming expertise in it. But he was the only one capable of stopping this magic circle. Dorothys gaze flickered wildly, her lips tightly pressed together, as she watched him act without hesitation despite knowing her true nature.

Aslan, I am a spirit. If people see you with me, it could lead to disaster.

The repercussions could extend beyond a simple exile from the family. At least, the Flame Emperor would never let Aslan off the hook.

Still, Aslans eyes remained unchanged.

Yes.

He simply said, willing to endure it all just to be with her. Dorothy clenched her fists as Aslans sincerity reached her.

The one who started this fire used a spirit seed. Ordinary magic cant extinguish these flames. And obviously, spirits cant stop it either.

The magic, a new creation using a spirit seed sold in underhanded deals, was a forbidden spell that forced the spirit within the seed to bloom and explode. A powerful spell akin to world erosion, amplifying the spirits power at the cost of its sacrifice. The Igrit family was already investigating such magic users.

Dorothy was a rare case, almost human-like among spirits. She was a new being created by the Spirit Kings Forest to evolve and respond to humans in a world undergoing erosion. Thus, she understood humans unlike typical spirits.

Regardless of the intent behind her evolution, her similarity to humans naturally piqued her interest in them, with magic being a particularly fascinating subject. She adopted the identity of a young mage named Dorothy, who had died, to learn magic at the academy. It was there she realized that the mage she impersonated was connected to the group researching spirit amplification magic.

Upon discovering this, Dorothy monitored their activities and rushed to prevent the arson when she saw one member being caught by the Igrits investigation.

Theres a spirit! Theres a spirit here!

Amidst the chaos, Aslan heard the panicked voices of children and magicians who had arrived late to fight the fire. Fear, hostility, and a mix of emotions poured from their eyes.

Its taking a hostage!

The magicians shouted, not realizing who had quelled the explosion. Desperate to correct the misunderstanding, Aslan couldnt muster his voice. He was fortunate not to be vomiting blood.

His gaze hurriedly sought Dorothy. They needed to flee now. If Dorothy remained, shed become a target for the magicians. And she knew it.

But before she could move, a wave of flames surged.

Stay away from my son!

With a thunderous voice, the fire enveloped Dorothy in an instant. She had been at her limit from suppressing the amplification magic. Naturally, she couldnt escape such high-tier flame magic.

Ah, aahhh!

Aslan, witnessing the scene, screamed in horror, spewing blood as he tried to rush to the burning Dorothy. But before he could, someone grabbed his arm.

Aslan! Its okay now, its over!

It was none other than his mother, Agatha. She had been investigating the forbidden magicians and rushed here after hearing of the academys arson. Luckily, the culprit had been captureda professor at the academy, who upon being cornered, unleashed his madness on the dormitory. Arriving, Agatha saw a spirit apparently attacking Aslan and, mistaking it for another hostile spirit prepared by the arsonist, incinerated it with all her might to save her son.

However, none of that mattered to Aslan. Dorothy was burning away. That was the only problem for him. At the last moment, the memory of her pushing him back, smiling, was vivid.

Do, Dorothy

Calling her name for the last time, Aslans consciousness broke as mana exhaustion took him. And that day became the day Aslan shattered.

Yet now, Aslan had come this far to meet Dorothy again. He ridiculed his past self for choosing suicide over searching for a way to resurrect her, for failing to find salvation in Dorothy. He despised himself for nearly giving up because he couldnt find a way, despite her saving him.

So, then.

Aslan spoke up, his voice cutting through the water as he addressed the shining Spirit Kings egg.

Dorothy, lets meet again.

He would atone and live with the regrets of his past for as many times as necessary. He proclaimed his desire to meet her once more, swallowing tears. He hadnt yet received her answer that day.

In that moment, the entire lake was enveloped in a halo of light. The Spirit Kings egg Aslan was cradling began to crack, and as he slowly lifted it from the water, the radiance converged upon the egg.

Swish

Transparent blue hair fluttered before his eyes, and Aslans gaze widened more than ever before. The girl submerged in the water slowly opened her fluttering eyes and rose.

As Aslan wept underwater, he smiled gently.

Dorothy.

Ah, Aslan?

His arms reached out, pulling her into an embrace, making a vow in his heart never to lose her again. Their reunion brought a new hope to Aslans life, a reason to keep on living.

And then, he remembered Kraush. His benefactor was now facing off against his own grandfather.

Dorothy, explanations will come later.

They had to leave immediately.

The clash of swords resounded. Kraush, busy with his vision, was fending off dozens of fireballs with his instincts and blunted blade. Across from him stood Adolf, exuding a casual air of confidence, every bit the formidable Ten Great Lord he was reputed to be. Kraush never intended to win. If Adolf were serious, Kraush would have been finished long ago. He could only face him because he knew Adolf wouldnt truly engage.

But still.

Kraush dodged another volley of fireballs and took a significant step back.

That nonchalant attitude is infuriating.

He had only planned to buy time until Aslan could resurrect Dorothy, but looking at Adolfs face made him reconsider. He understood why Aslan hated and resented Adolf so much. If this was what Aslan endured daily, it was no wonder.

It made Kraush want to land a solid blow.

[Kraush.]

Crimson Gardens voice reached him.

[The spirit has been resurrected.]

That was enough to push Kraushs limits beyond their bounds.